Pupils Design Inclusive Toys and Grasp Equitable Social Rules
In the heart of Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, a summer educational program named Innovate For Change is underway. From August 1 to 3, high school students (grades 9-12) are gathering to develop real educational tools, including inclusive and safe toys, to support children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and other special needs.
The project, hosted at Spectrum International School in partnership with the Balam-Ai organization, is an innovation camp that encourages students to apply their creative and scientific skills to design educational resources that make learning and play safer and more inclusive for children with special needs.
The initiative is more than just a toy-making competition. It aims to foster environmental and social impact by combining education, innovation, and hands-on experience. The program includes daily lessons about the basics of inclusion, social responsibility, and safe behavior. Lectures on road safety and children's rights are also incorporated to ensure that the students understand the importance of following rules for their own safety and that of the children they are helping.
Nuriya Baltabaykyzy, chairperson of Autism Kazakhstan, shared her experience with the students, emphasizing that inclusion is about equal rights, respect, and understanding that the law is the same for everyone. She discussed how children with autism perceive the street, people, and noise, highlighting the need for safe and understanding environments for these children.
Teams are developing a variety of educational solutions, such as sensory modules and navigation cards, in addition to toys. The program prioritizes public safety, ensuring the creation of safe toys for children with special needs.
At the end of the program, a jury will select the best teams to continue working on full-fledged prototypes. The project's co-founder, Aida Abzhanova, emphasizes that the initiative is about fostering civic thinking, respect for the law, rights of others, and self-respect among the participants. It encourages the students to understand that following rules contributes to the common good.
The program is attended by teenagers from various cities in Kazakhstan who are creating inclusive and educational toys for children with special needs. The finished products will be given to children with special needs as part of a social project, promoting inclusivity and accessibility in education and play.
Sources: [1] Innopulse. (2025). Innovate For Change: Empowering Youth to Create Inclusive Toys for Children with Special Needs. Retrieved from https://innopulse.kz/innovate-for-change-empowering-youth-to-create-inclusive-toys-for-children-with-special-needs/
[2] Astana Hub. (2025). Innovate For Change: A Summer Program for Inclusive Education. Retrieved from https://astanahub.com/innovate-for-change-a-summer-program-for-inclusive-education/
[3] Balam-Ai. (2025). Innovate For Change: Empowering the Next Generation. Retrieved from https://balam-ai.org/innovate-for-change-empowering-the-next-generation/
- The Innovate For Change summer program in Astana, Kazakhstan promotes a lifestyle of innovation, education, and self-development, focusing on developing educational tools to support children with disabilities, which extends beyond social media and entertainment.
- The Innovate For Change project endeavors to instill a strong sense of social responsibility and understanding of the importance of following rules in their participants, transcending the realms of education-and-self-development and reaching into the real world, affecting public safety and improving the quality of life for children with special needs.
